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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. L.

(No Model.)

B. HABERTHU' R & J. MANDE BRIDGE GA-TE.

Patented July 4, 1893.

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1 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. HABBRTHUR & J. MANDEL.

BRIDGE GATE.

No. 500,654. Patented July 4, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENEDIKT HABERTHUR AND JOSEPH MANDEL, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, ASSIGNORSOF ONE-HALF TO JAMES P. HENDERSON AND OTTO A. KRAUS,

OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDGE-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,654, dated July 4,1893.

Application filed April 5. 1893. Serial No. 469,1l5. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BENEDIKT HABERTHUR and JOSEPH MANDEL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Logansport, in the county of 5 Cass andState of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Gate-Operating Mechanisms; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in automatic gate operatingmechanisms, de signed for use with swinging drawbridges,

I and it consists in the construction and arrangement of partshereinafter to be fully described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

One object of our invention is to provide an automatically rising gate,actuated solely by the movement of the swinging drawbridge, operating inwhichever direction the bridge may move, and rising in sections, so thatthe portions of the roadway from which the draw- 2 5 bridge has swungclear may be at once protected, and not be obliged to wait for suchprotection until the gate has swung entirely free of the road Way.

Another object of our invention is to make 0 the operative parts of thegate raising mechanism extremely simple in construction, so as not to beliable to be disarranged or injured by the climatic changes to whichsuch mechanism must necessarily be exposed and also to make it so cheapin construction as to enable it to be fitted to existing bridges.

Hertofore, gates of this character have usually been made in onesection, and have been let down from housings arranged above the 0 endof the road abutting against the bridge, or have been raised from aposition below the roadbed. Gates of this character have also been madewhich are operated from the side of the roadway, but in most of thesecases,

ropes or pulleys have been used as part of the operating mechanism ofthe gate, and the mechanisms have otherwise been such, as to render themincapable of enduring the hard usage to which they are exposed in thecommon course of traffic.

One feature of our gate operating mechanism is that ropes or pulleys arenot used in the construction of the same, but all of the parts thereofare made in such a solid, compact, and substantial form as not to beliable to be disarranged by the influences of wind and weather, and notsubject to undue deterioration or wear. The parts of our mechanism arealso so simple in form that they can be easily adjusted in place, andcan be easily replaced in case of accident to the same.

A feature of our invention lies in the fact that our bridge is operatedin sections; the sections rising successively as the drawbridge swingsoutward away from the land, thus preventing any person or vehicle frombeing exposed to possible risk or danger while the bridge is stillswinging open.

Our gate operating mechanism consists in a series of rotating disks orplates arranged below the roadway, each of which is connected at a pointin its circumference to one of the vertically rising gate sectionsbyapivoted link, and is actuated bya section of gear teeth placed on thebottom of the bridge at the end of the same, the said gear teethengaging with the series of studs or rods projecting from thecircumference of each disk and, by rotating the said disk, causing therising or falling of the gate section to which it is attached. Suitablyconstructed locking devices, released just before the gate sections areto be opened, hold the respective gate sections in their raisedpositions when the bridge is open, and in their lowered positions whenthe bridge is closed. The gate sections are guided in theirreciprocating movement by rods which pass through suitable guidingplates arranged in the frame workof the gate operating mechanism. 0

Ourinvention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming apart of this application, in which the same reference numerals refer tothe same or corresponding parts and in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of our gate operating mechanisumshowing the gate raised, thedrawbridge being open. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of one of the gatesections, showing the same raised and about to be engaged by the gearteeth on the end of the bridge,in order to lower the same. Fig. 3 is aView of ICC the same gate section, showing the gate partially lowered.Fig. 4 is a view of the same gate section showing the gate entirelylowered, the gear teeth on the end of the bridge being about to passaway from said section. Fig. 5 is a section of Fig. 4 on the line w0c.Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the locking-plate and the pivoted dog usedto operate the same. Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the pier orabutment to which the gate operating mechanism is attached. The gate, aspreviously stated, is made in sections, in the drawings four suchsections being shown, though the number of gate sections will be variedin accordance with the size of the bridge in connection with which thesame is used. The respective gate sections are,however, similar in theirconstruction, and therefore a description of one of them will sufficefor all.

Referring then to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the numeral 2 represents theframework of the gate section and is formed of a horizontally extendingpiece 3, extending along the bottom of the framework, and two verticallyrising portions 4, extending upward to nearly the level of the roadbed,and formed with the projecting pieces 5, through which the guide rods 6,attached to the gate section 7, pass. To the bottom plate 3, isfastened, the A- shaped bracket 8, which extends upward,and in the upperend of which is formed a hearing for the rod 9, to one end of which isfastened at its center the rotating disk 10, it thus forming the axisfor the rotation of said disk. The nut 11, screwed on the outer end ofsaid bolt holds the same in position. On the outer surface of the saiddisk 10, and arranged at stated intervals on the circumference of thesame, are the studs or rods 12, which extend a short distance from thecircumference. Intermediate of the bracket 8 and the rotating disk 10,is placed the locking-plate 12, which is shown in detail in Fig. 6. Thislockingplate consists of a flat, narrow plate extending from top tobottom of the rotating disk 10,and is formed with a central slot 13,through which the bolt 9 passes, which slot is large enough to allow foran up or down movement of said locking-plate relative to said bolt. Oneither side of the central slot 13, are formed the slots 14, througheach of which passes a bolt or screw, holding a locking dog 15 pivotallyattached thereto. This locking dog is formed with the two sideprojecting portions 16, so that, when the locking dog is rotated on itsaxis by movement of the upper end of said dog,the said ends 16 willengage with the pro jectinglugs 17, placed on either side of the slots14, and formed integral with the locking plate, and, by such movementraise the locking-plate 13 through the extent of its travel. The slots18 are formed at either end of the locking-plate 14 and in these slotsmove the projecting lugs 19, which are attached to the rotating disk 10,(see Fig. 5) and which serve to limit the up and down movement of saidlocking plate.

The said lugs 19 also hold the locking-plate 13 in a fixed positionrelative to the rotating disk 10, preventing said locking-plate fromswinging around the rod 9 as a center. The locking-plate, 13, is formedat each end with a projecting lug 20, which lug, both when the gatesection is in its raised and lowered positions, engages with a socket 21formed in the bottom plate 3 of the framework of the gate operatingmechanism, and thus locks the gate section in the position in which itthen is.

The gate 7 is connected with the rotating disk 10 by means of the link25, which is secured to the upper central portion of said gate section,and also to the disk 10, at a point near the circumference of the same.The point of connection to said disk is so chosen that it lies in adiametrical line with the lugs 19, which project from the surface ofsaid rotating disk, so that when the gate section is either in itsraised or lowered position, the said lever is on a line with thelocking-plate 13, and in a position to be at once affected by anyrotation of disk 10. The gate section 7, besides being guided by therods 6, is further guided and held in position during its reciprocationsby the projecting flanges 26, formed in the vertical portions 4 of theframe work of the gate mechanism. The gate 7 is formed with any desiredconfiguration, and may be ornamented to any desired extent.

The operation of our gate operating mechanism is as follows:0n the lowerside of the bridge, and at each corner of each end of the same, issecured a section of the gear teeth 30. The number of full teethin eachsuch set corresponds to that of the projecting lugs 12, placed on asemi-circumference of the rotating disk 10. The first and last tooth ineach such section are made shorter than the rest, so that they will notengage with the said projecting lugs 12, for a purpose which willhereinafter appear. Commencing the description of our gate mechanismwith the sections all raised, as that is the position shown in Fig. 1,and referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, it will be seen that when the gearteeth 30 approach the gate section, as the bridge is swung inward, thefirst tooth of such gear teeth does notstrike the top projecting lug 12,which it would if it were of normal length, but passes the same andengages with the upper end of the locking dog 15, causing the same toturn upon its axis, and thereby raise the lower end of the locking-plate13 out of the socket formed in the,.bottom plate 3 of the framework ofthe gate mechanism. The next tooth of the gear teeth will engage the topprojecting lug 12, and, as the bridge still swings inward, will causethe disk 10 to rotate, this action being continued by each succeedingtooth. As there are as many teeth in the section of gear teeth as thereare projecting lugs around a semi-circumference of the disk 10, positiverotation of said disk is assured. When the gate section 7 reaches itslowest position, the other end of the locking-plate 13 falls into thesocket 21 formed in plate 3, and

thus securely locks the gate in its lowered position. The operation thusstated for one gate section is repeated by each gate sectionsuccessively as the end of the bridge passes the same, until the bridgeswings finally into position and the entire gate is lowered.

It is to be understood that a gate is placed at each end of the bridge.

The gate operatingmechanism is actuated by a movement of the bridge ineither direction, and its movement is at all times positive and certain.The parts forming the same are so few in number, and so simple inconstruction, that a disarrangement of the same very rarely takes place.WVhen, however, such an accident happens, the broken parts can bereadily replaced and the bridge again placed in perfect condition. WVepreferably make the various parts of our mechanism of iron, though anyother suitable material may be used if desired, and the strength inconstruction gained thereby is such as to render an accident improbable.Our gate operating mechanism is very compact in form, and iscomparatively cheap to construct, and to place in position.

Itis evident that our gate operating mechanism may be used in connectionwith other things than bridges, as for instance it may be used in publichalls and opera houses, and we do not restrict ourselves to its use inconnection with bridges.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gate operating mechanism,the combination with a series of gatesections, of a series of rotating disks, means for connecting said gatesections with said disks, so that by the rotation of said disks, saidgate sections will be raised or lowered, locking latches, having theiraxes coincident with those of the rotating disks and engaging with theframework of the mechanism, for holding said gate sections either intheir raised or lowered positions, and means connected with the bridgefor unlocking said locking latches and thereupon causing the rotation ofsaid disks, substantially as described.

2. In a gate operating mechanism, the combination with a series of gatesections, of a series of rotating disks, having formed around theircircumferences a series of projecting lugs, and connected with said gatesections by links attached near their circumferences, of gear teethplaced 011 the bridge for engaging the said projecting lugs and causingthe rotation of said disks, substantially as described.

3. In a gate operating mechanism, the combination with a series of gatesections, of a series of rotating disks having formed on their outersurfaces around their. circumferences a series of projecting lugs, andconnected with said gate sections by links attached near theircircumferences, locking devices for holding said gate sections in theirraised or lowered positions, and means placed on the bridge forunlocking said locking devices and thereupon rotating said disks,substantially as described.

I 4. In a gate operating mechanism, the combination with a series ofgate sections, of a series of rotating disks, each of which is formed onits outersurface around its circumference with projecting lugs, and isconnected to one of said gate sections by a linkattached near itscircumference, a locking-plate provided with a central slot throughwhich the axis of the rotating disk passes, a pair of slots arranged oneither side of said central slot, in each of which is pivoted alocking-dog whose side projecting arms engage with studs placed on thelocking-plate, pointed ends to said plate, one of which engages with alocking socket formed in the frame work of the mechanism, and a sectionof gear teeth placed on the bridge for engaging with said locking dog,thus unlocking the locking deviee,'and there upon engaging theprojecting lugs and cansing the rotation of the disk, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a gate operating mechanism, the combination with a series of gatesections, of a series of rotating disks, each of which is formed on itsouter surface around its circumference with projecting lugs, a lockingplate provided with a central slot through which the axis of therotating disk passes, a pair of slots arranged on either side of saidcentral slot, in each of which is pivoted a locking dog whose sideprojecting arms engage with studs placed on the locking plate, anotherpair of slots in which move pins formed integral with the retating disk,pointed ends to said plate, one of which engages with a locking socketformed in the framework of the mechanism, a link connecting said diskand said gate section, and attached to said disk at a point indiametrical line with said slot-engaging lugs, and

a series of gear teeth attached to the bridge for engaging with saidlocking dog, thereby unlocking the locking device, and thereuponengaging with the projecting lugs and cansing the rotation of the disk,substantially as described. p

6. In a gate operating mechanism, the combination with a series of gatesections having vertical guides, of a series of rotating disks havingformed around their circumferences a series of projecting lugs, andconnected with said gate sections by links attached near theircircumferences, and gear teeth placed on thebridge for engaging the saidprojecting lugs and causing the rotation of said disks, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

BENEDIKT IIABERTHUR. JOSEPH MANDEL.

Witnesses:

J os. WILER, S. B. PATTERSON.

